Expansible mandrel



March 4, 1969 c. s. cHARNEsKl ETAL. 3,430,883

EXPANSIBLE MANDREL Filed June 14, 1967 March 4, 1969 c. s. CHARNESKI rr-:TAL 3,430,883

' EXPANSIBLE MANDREL Filed June 14, 1967l l sheet 2 of 2 aa as 40 s sa A i -40 3l Lf :X

a7 es a 30 F/ 6. 3 INVENTORS CHARLES S. CHARNESK/ BY RONALD E. ELL/OTT United States Patent O 3,430,883 EXPANSIBLE MANDREL Charles S. Charneski, Manville, and Ronald E. Elliott, Somerville, NJ., assignors to Frank W. Egan & C0., Somerville, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed .lune 14, 1967, Ser. No. 645,920 U.S. Cl. 242-72.1 Claims lnt. Cl. B65h 75/18 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reel for use in coiling and uncoiling metallic strip material including a sleeve unit carried by, rotatable with and slidable along a rotary shaft; a plurality of coil supporting members parallel to the shaft axis and spaced from the sleeve unit and from each other; a plurality of H-shaped slide blocks interposed between and slidable along corresponding rails carried by the sleeve unit and the coil supporting members for effecting movement of the coil supporting members toward and away from the shaft in response to axial movement of the sleeve unit; and an arrangement of arms, rollers and guides to permit bodily movement of the coil supporting members toward and away from the shaft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an expansible mandrel reel and, more particularly, to such a reel that is adapted to be advantageously used in the coiling and uncoiling of relatively heavy strip material, such as metallic strips. The invention pertains, in one of its more specific aspects, to an improved mechanism for readily expanding and contracting the reel mandrel, as required.

There have been a number of developments over the years in the eld of expansible mandrel reels. These developments are exemplified by the reel constructions disclosed in F. M. Littell et al. Patent No. 2,598,398, H. Smeets Patent No. 2,989,263, C. C. Floyd, Jr. Patent No. 3,085,763, J. W. Martt Patent No. 3,086,728 and L. V. Anderson Patent No. 3,116,891. While several of these developments have been utilized to some extent, noue is considered entirely satisfactory.

One of the serious drawbacks of known expansible mandrel reels is the limited range of expansion and contraction that can be attained thereby. Due to the heavy weight of -many coils, the mandrel must be sturdy and rugged in construction to safely support such a coil. The mandrel must also be capable of being contracted to a sufciently small diameter to readily register with the center hole of a coil. These conflicting requirements have placed severe restrictions on design and have resulted in mandrels which not only have a limited range in expansion and contraction but also, particularly in the case of uncoilers, present operating difficulties with coils having center hole diameters that are outside a narrow size range or are out of round.

Prior art attempts to solve this problem have not successfully met the capability, performance and economic requirements of the industry. One such attempt utilizes a control mechanism including levers and eccentric means. This mechanism is objectionable for two main reasons. First, it adds considerably to both the complexity and the manufacturing cost of the mandrel. Secondly, it requires an unduly large force to expand the mandrel against the hole-defining surface of a coil because of inherent design restrictions.

Another prior art attempt to solve the problem proposes increasing the range of expansion and contraction of a mandrel by increasing the angle of inclination of rela- Patented Mar. 4, 1969 ICE tively slidable wedge elements whereby to correspondingly increase the extent of radial movement of coil supporting members in response to predetermined axial movement of actuating means. This is also objectionable for the primary reason that it requires the application of a substantially `greater operating force to the actuating means than that normally necessary to properly support the coil.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As was indicated earlier herein, the reel of this invention is of the expansible mandrel type and is adapted for use in coiling and uncoiling relatively heavy strip material. The reel includes an arrangement of cooperating parts that provide an increased range of expansion and contraction of coil supporting members without the necessity of applying an increased operating force to effect requisite radial displacement of those members.

As will be evident from the detailed description appearing further along herein and the drawings, the therein disclosed H-shaped slide members and their relationship to other parts constitute one of the important features of the invention and the coupling means constitutes another important feature.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an expansible mandrel reel having improved features of design and construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a reel for coiling and uncoiling strip material, an expansible mandrel mechanism having a range of expansion and contraction that is substantially greater than those of similar conventional reels.

A further object of the invention is to increase the range of expansion and contraction of expansible mandrel reels without the necessity of applying a greater operating force than that required to actuate coil supporting members of present day reels.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a reel of the character indicated that is simple and compact in design; that is sturdy and durable in construction; that is reasonable in manufacturing and operating costs; that is low in maintenance costs; and that is capable of performing its intended functions in an efficient and dependable manner.

The enumerated objects and features and additional objects and features, together with the advantages of the invention, will be readily apparent to persons trained in the art from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings which respectively describe and illustrate a preferred and recommended embodiment of an expansible mandrel reel constructed according to this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify corresponding parts in the several views:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reel taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 3 and shows the relative position of the mandrel parts when the mandrel is in fully contracted condition;

FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1 and illustrates the relative position of the mandrel parts when the mandrel is in fully expanded condition;

FIG. 3 is a view in enlargement taken along staggered line 3--3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of an H-shaped slide member which is also shown in other views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the illustrated reel construction includes a support frame which is generally indicated by numeral 10. A horizontal,

hollow spindle shaft 11 is mounted for rotation in bearings (not shown) in the support frame and is adapted to be rotated by suitable means (also not shown). The shaft is provided with an axial through passage 12 and is eX- ternally stepped down to obtain portions 13, 14 and 15 of progressively reduced diameter. Shaft portions 14 and 15 are provided with respective longitudinal keyways 16 and 17. An actuating rod 18 is slidable in shaft passage 12 and is actuated by appropriate means (not shown) within the support frame. The outer end of the actuating rod is adapted to project beyond the free end of shaft 11 and is equipped with a coaxial cap 20 that is secured thereto by a screw 21. The cap is provided with a plurality of lateral, circumferentially arranged ears 22.

A sleeve unit 23 is telescopically mounted on the shaft and is secured to cap ears 22 by corresponding screws 24. The sleeve unit is provided with keys 25 and 26 which register with keyways 16 and 17, respectively, whereby to permit axial movement of the sleeve unit relative to Shaft 11 but prevent relative rotational movement of these parts.

The sleeve unit comprises a pair of spaced cruciform portions 27, each of which includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially projecting rails 28. The rails of each sleeve unit portion 27 are inclined to the axis of shaft 11 and constitute portions of the surface of revolution of a right circular cone. Each rail defines a coextensive T-shaped groove 30.

Mounted on the shaft 11 is a plurality of coil supporting members 31 which are parallel to the axis of the shaft. These members are dished, as indicated in the drawings, and are equi-spaced radially from the axis of the shaft and equi-spaced circumferentially from each other. Each coil supporting member is provided with a pair of spaced rails 32 which are affixed thereby by corresponding dowel pins 33 and screws (not shown). Rails 32 are spaced from and parallel to corresponding rails 28. Each rail 32 is formed with a T-shaped groove 34 that is parallel to groove of a corresponding rail 28. A stop mmeber 35 is secured to the rear end of each rail 30 by a screw 36. Like stop members 37 are secured to rails 28 of the rear portion of sleeve unit 23 by corresponding screws 38.

Interposed between and engaging each rail 28 and a corresponding rail 32 is a slide member 40. The slide members are H-shaped in transverse configuration. Each slide member is formed with parallel grooves 41 (FIG. 4) which extend inwardly from opposite sides thereof. As is illustrated in FIG. 3, portions of each slide member register with and are slidable along the T-shaped grooves 30 and 34 of respective corresponding rails 28 and 32.

Each coil supporting member 31 is connected to shaft 11 by a coupling means which permits bodily movement of the coil supporting member toward and away from the sleeve unit. This coupling means includes a guide device in the form of a block 42 that is secured to shaft portion 13 by screws or the like (not shown). Guide block 42 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed grooves 43 which define paths that are normal to the axis of shaft 11. As illustrated in FIG. 1, each coil supporting member 31 is provided at its inner end with a pair of spaced parallel extensions or fingers 45 which carry coaxial stub shafts 46 that project into the opening between the fingers. A roller 47 is mounted on each stub shaft and is disposed in a corresponding groove 43. It will be evident from an examination of FIGS. 1 and 2 that the above-described coupling means permits movement of a corresponding coil supporting member toward and away from sleeve unit 23 and shaft 11 but prevents forward or rearward movement of the coil supporting member relative to the shaft.

The illustrated form of the invention contemplates the use of four coil supporting members 31 and eight sets of rails 28 and 32, consisting of two such sets for each coil supporting member, and one H-shaped slide member 40 for each set. This arrangement is preferred and recommended in most cases in order to obtain good centering action of the coil. It is to be borne in mind, however, that it is within the purview of this invention to employ fewer or more than the indicated number of coil supporting members and rail sets and a corresponding number of slide members for each rail set. Also, the number of rails and slide members in each set may be varied depending on the length of the mandrel and other design factors.

As is shown in FIG. 3, rails 28 and 32 of each set thereof are maintained apart a small clearance distance 48 by their slide member. The slide members are freely slidable in either direction along corresponding rails to the extent allowed by stop elements 35 and 37 and the free ends of cap ears 22 (FIG. 2). The slide members are preferably made of bronze or similar metal having requisite wear properties and a low coefcient of sliding friction in relation to the material of the rails which may be made of steel, cast iron or other suitable metal.

The operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention for unwinding a previously formed coil of strip material will now be described. With the mandrel in fully contracted condition (FIG. l), the coil is loaded onto the mandrel and lined up with processing line equipment (not shown). Actuating rod 18 is them moved toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, by conventional means (not shown) thereby sliding sleeve unit 23 and its rails 28 to the right along shaft 11 through the medium of cap 20. Movement of the sleeve unit to the right effects sliding movement of each slide member relative to its rails thereby causing the coil supporting members 31 to move radially outwardly relative to the axis of shaft 11 until the coil supporting members securely grip the portions of the coil that define its center hole, at which time such movement ceases. The indicated movement of the sleeve unit to the right and resultant expansion of the coil supporting members may be limited by engagement of cap 20 with the free end face of shaft 11 (FIG. 2). The parts are so designed and arranged that when the cap bears against the free end of the shaft there is a slight clearance between the slide members and stop elements 37 and ears 22 to avoid subjecting the slide members to additional loading. It will be evident that slide members 40 and coil supporting members 31 may assume any relative position intermediate those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, depending on the diameter of the coil center hole. Moreover, the individual slide members may slide relative to either or both corresponding rails 28 and 32 during operation. The earlier described coupling means prevents movement of the coil supporting members axially of the shaft.

When the coil is completely unwound or should it be desired to remove a partly unwound coil, actuating rod 18 is moved to the left, causing the coil supporting members to be returned from expanded condition (FIG. 2) to contracted condition (FIG. 1). Movement of the sleeve unit toward the left to effect contraction of the coil supporting members is preferably limited by the hydraulic or other means '(not shown) that operate the actuating rod.

Operation of the illustrated construction as a Winder starts with the mandrel in fully expanded condition |(FIG. 2) or partly expanded condition, depending on the desired coil center hole diameter. When the coil is fully wound, the mandrel is contracted until the parts assume the relative position shown in FIG. 1 and the coil is removed.

The above-described construction, due to the novel arrangement of rails and slide members, allows a substantial increase in the range of expansion and contraction as compared to that attainable with prior art expansible mandrels. Referring to FIG. 1 wherein the mandrel is shown in its fully contracted condition, it will be noted that the coil supporting member rails 32 nearest the support frame 10 are in close proximity to the portion 14 of shaft 11, while the rails 28 of the sleeve unit 23 are in close proximity to the coil support member 31. lIt is evident that the mandrel cannot be further contracted any appreciable amount without resulting in undesirable contact between the rails 32 and the shaft or the rails 28 and the coil support member. In prior art mandrels having conventional interengaging inclined slides, and assuming the same diameter shaft and angle of slide inclination, the slides will contact the shaft or the support member or both before the mandrel can be contracted to the same small diameter as in the present invention.

Again referring to FIG. 1, if the slide blocks 40 were omitted and rails 32 were increased in depth so as to engage rails 28, as in the case of prior art mandrels, the increased depth of rails 32 would cause these rails to contact the shaft before the full retraction of the mandrel was completed. Similarly, an increase in depth of rails 28 would result in contact between these rails and the coil support member. In order to reach the desired minimum contracted diameter and still maintain the required diameter of the shaft for strength purposes, the prior art mandrels are restricted to shorter rails or slides and a shorter stroke than the present invention. Therefore, although the prior art mandrels may be constructed to contract to closely the same diameter as the present invention, the expanded diameter will be considerably less because of the shorter slides and stroke.

For example, an expansible mandrel of the prior art having conventional interengaging inclined slides has a contracted diameter of 18 inches and an expanded diameter of 241/2 inches, while a mandrel constructed in accordance with this invention and having a coil capacity identical with that of the prior art mandrel has a contracted diameter of 17% inches and an expanded diameter of 26% inches. It will be appreciated from this that the additional expansion capabilities of the subject invention enables an operator to handle coils which would otherwise have to be handled by other equipment. It has been ascertained that the additional expansion of the mandrel coil supporting members does not require application of an axial force that is greater than that required by prior art mandrels having the same angle of slide inclination.

Based on the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation, objects and advantages of our present invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art, without further description. It is to be clearly understood, however, that various changes in the construction described above and illustrated in the drawings may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, it being intended that all matter contained in the description or shown in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In an expansible mandrel reel for use in coiling and uncoiling strip material:

(a) support means;

(b) a rotary shaft carried by the support means and having an end portion which projects beyond the support means;

(c) a sleeve unit coaxial with the shaft and mounted on the end portion thereof for axial but non-rotary movement relative to the shaft, the sleeve unit inicluding:

(1) a plurality of circumferentially arranged first rails, each of which defines a path that is inclined relative to the axis of the shaft;

(d) means for effecting axial movement of the sleeve unit relative to the shaft;

(e) a plurality of coil supporting members generally parallel to the shaft and spaced from the sleeve unit and from each other, each coil supporting member including:

(1) a second rail which defines a path that is inclined relative to the axis of the shaft;

(f) coupling means permitting bodily movement of each coil supporting member toward and away from the sleeve unit; and

(g) a slide member interposed between and slidably engaging each first rail and a corresponding second rail and movable along the paths defined thereby in response to axial movement of the sleeve unit.

2. A reel according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) each slide member is formed with grooves extending inwardly from opposite sides thereof; and

(b) portions of each first rail and corresponding second rail project into the grooves of a corresponding slide member.

3. A reel according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the paths defined by each first rail and a vcorresponding second rail are substantially parallel.

4. A reel according to claim 3 wherein:

(a) each slide member is formed with a pair of parallel grooves which extend inwardly from opposite sides thereof; and

(b) portions of each first rail and corresponding second rail project into each of said grooves of a correspondin-g slide member.

5. A reel according to claim 41 wherein:

(a) each slide member is H-shaped in transverse ycross section.

6. A reel according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) said rail paths are along corresponding grooves which are formed in the rails and which are T- shaped in transverse configuration; and

(b) each slide member registers with and is slidable .along the grooves in corresponding first and second rails.

7. A reel according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) each slide member is H-shaped in transverse cross section;

(b) said rail paths are along corresponding grooves which are formed in the rails and which are T- shaped in transverse configuration; .and

(c) each slide members registers with and is slidable along the grooves in corresponding first and second rails.

8. A reel according to claim 7 wherein the grooves formed in each first rail and corresponding second rail are substantially parallel.

9. A reel according to claim 1 wherein the coupling means for each coil supporting member comprises:

(a) a device secured to and rotatable with the shaft and formed with at least one rectilinear groove which is generally normal to the axis of the shaft;

(b) finger means connected to the coil supporting member; and

(c) means carried `by the linger means and projecting into and movable along the groove.

10. A reel according to claim 9 wherein:

(a) the device is formed with a pair of oppositely disposed rectilinear grooves which are generally norimal to the axis of the shaft; and

(b) the means carried by the finger means comprises:

( 1) a pair of coaxial stub shafts; and

(2) a roller mounted on and rotatable about the axis of each stub shaft, each roller being positioned in and movable along a corresponding groove.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS NATHAN L. MINTZ, Primary Examiner. 

